The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-11-26


Court win probably adjourn to-day.
Having been tied up on the grand jury
nearly all the week we are unable to give
any Of the court business except the re-
port Of the grand jury:
To the honorable Judge of the 18th Judicial
District Of Louisiana, holdiag the November
Grant:
We the grand jury duly drawn, i'm
paneled, sworn and charged to inquire
In and for the parish of Grant have
to report that we have had A cases
presented before us, and have exam
ined Al cases, finding is true bills,
and no true bulls in % cases. In S
cases We failed to secure Witnesses,
and in these cases have taken no action.
We would specially report in tho
case of the State VS.. Henry Mcdowell,
charged with bigamy, that we have
evidence sufficient to convince Us that
he is guilty of the crime alleged, but
as the matter is shown to be beyond
our jurisdiction, both marriage licenses
eminating from Rapides parish, We
have taken no action on his case. The
witnesses in the case are Jas. A.
Harvey, ]. E. Nugent, E. s. Gray,
Richard Newton, James Millstead, j.
c. Hutchinson and j. v. Cooper, and
we recommend that the court order
copy Of this special report forwarded
to the clerk of Rapides, to be laid be-
fore the next grand jury of that parish
for their consideration.
W.. v1o1 - k1ok n
is on the decrease in our parish, and
that all of the bills that we have found
are for minor offenses. We find that
the general disposition of the people
is to see that the laws are enforced by
bringing criminals to justice.
We find that liquor is being sold in
the parish plainly in violation Of the
| prohibition ordinance adopted by the
people, the usual plan of evasion be-
| ing by what is commonly termed the
"prescription DODGE And while this
grand jury is divided in sentiment
relative to finding true bills in such
cases, we all agree that such evasions
are wrong and hurtful to the commu-
nifty in which they are practiced. We
recommend the adoption by our police
jury, of an ordinance similar to one
adopted in Rapides parish, restricting
druggists from refilling ssprescription
bottles" unless the parties desiring
them refilled certify that the LIQUOR is
needed for medicinal purposes, and pro-
viding for the prosecution of persons
who shall by any subterfuge evade tho
law or swear falsely in such cases.
Reports relative to the roads as far
as heard from indicate that they have
been worked in accordance with the
law and are in good condition, there
being only one case of neglect to work
small portion of Claiborne road from
Rapides parish line to the IL mile
board. w. L. Bell, the overseer in
this case, reports as his excuse for not
| performing the work that Is or Is of
the hands appOrtiOned to him refused
to work the roads of Grant parish on
the ground that they were residents Of
Rapides parish. He has had the par
ties cited before the magistrate of ward
two, who was TO have rendered his
Judgment on Saturday, Nov. 18th, but
has not yet heard what the magistrate
has decided.
Your grand jurors have examined
the parish and court buildings, have to
report that the prisoners are not re-
quired to keep. their rooms as cleauly
as they should be kept. The work
lately done upon grand jury room in
the upper part Of the Jail has not been
done in workman like manner. We
| find that one of the back doors lead
ing into the hallway of tho courthouse
is in dilapidated condition and needs
repairing. The books, blanks and
papers Of the tax collector and assessor
are kept in rather loose manner ow-
ing to lack of proper apartments to
keep them in convenient shape. Also
the records, books and papers of the
clerks Office are not kept in an orderly
manner, owing to lack Of proper shelv-
ing and closets to put them away. We
urgently recommend the purchase of
q fire-proof safe in which to keep the
title deeds and record books of the
parish, the present arrangements be-
ing totally Insufficient to guarantee
their safe keeping. We find that the
statements of the tax collector and
treasurer agree relative to the finances
Of the parish, and believe their books
are correctly kept.
Thanking the court and officers for
their courtesy and assistance in our
endeavors to inquire in and for the
good Of the parish. your grand jurors
submit this their final report aud ask
to be discharged.